Cast metal street curb



Aug. 31, 1965 B. M. DALEY CAST METAL STREET CURB 'Filed March 22. 1962 INVENTOR.42

BY I G Q W1 X ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,203,327 CAST METAL STREET CURB Bernard M. Daley, 81 Colton Ave., Lackawanna, N.Y. Filed Mar. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 181,671 2 Claims. (Cl. 9431) This invention relates to a curb for highways and the like made of interconnected sections of cast metal, preferably cast iron.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a curb made of cast iron which can be produced competitive with other curbing materials and at the same time have the advantages of cast iron over such other materials, namely, high strength and freedom from breakage and chipping; long life and freedom from deterioration; the capability of being cast to an exact form for close interfit of the several sections and for special services; lightness in weight to facilitate installation; and ready replaceability.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a curb which can be laid with far less effort than curbs made of conventional materials and without the provision of accurately placed forms, as with poured concrete curbs, and without the provision of special footings and the moving and placing of heavy loads as required with stone or precast concrete curbs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sectional cast iron curb in which the sections are interlocked at their ends with one another and in which the interlock permits the curb to follow both horizontal and vertical curves of the roadway so that straight units can be used both in rounding long curves in the road and also in founding hills and valleys or other undulations in the roadway.

Another object is to provide such a sectional cast iron curb in which the interlocking joints provide for noiseless expansion and contraction of the metal curb sections in hot and cold weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a curb which is securely connected to the concrete base of the roadway and also is reliably joined to the surface coating thereof but in which the sections can be easily removed if, for example, a property owner should require a driveway through the curb at some particular point.

- Another object of the invention is to provide such a cast iron curb which is light in weight and at the same time adequately reinforced to have high strength.

Another object is to provide such a curb which can have any required shape or surface finish and in particular can be produced with anti-slip top surfaces to reduce the danger of pedestrians slipping on the curb and can also be provided with vertical ribs on the vertical face of the curb and which ribs can be painted or otherwise treated to be clearly visible at night under the illumination of automobile headlights.

Another object is to provide a sectional curb which can be anchored to a base at any point along its length by anchors which can be secured varying elevations with respect to the base so that a high degree of accuracy is not required in locating the anchoring members embedded in the base.

Another object is to provide such anchors which are inconspicuous and in particular do not project in such manner as to possibly trip persons stepping off or onto the curb.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of a roadway having a curb constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of a section of cast iron curb made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 33, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through a joint between two of the curb sections illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the anchoring strip or tie plate and anchoring screw used to secure the curb sections to the concrete base of the road.

The curb of the present invention comprises a plurality of curb sections 10 made of cast metal, preferably cast iron, and which will interfit with one another at their ends and are supported at the side edges of the concrete base 11 of the roadway. This roadway can have a surface finish layer 12 of asphalt or the like which is preferably provided after the curb has been installed so as to have a water-tight joint 13 with the bottom of that side of the curb facing the roadway, as best shown in FIG. 1.

In preparation for laying the curb, tubular nuts or internally threaded sockets 15 are preferably embedded in the concrete base 11 along the sides thereof. A feature of the invention resides in the provision of means, as hereinafter explained, whereby these sockets 15 do not have to be located vertically or horizontally along the curb with a high degree of accuracy. As shown in FIG.

1 each of these nuts or anchoring sockets 15 preferably includes a cylindrical body portion 16 having a blind internally threaded bore 18 extending axially from the outer end thereof, and the inner end of the body can be extended in the form of a solid shank 19 provided with an enlarged head 20, the latter insuring firm anchorage of the nut in the concrete. Nuts as above described are embedded along the sides of the concrete base 11 in horizontal position with their outer ends coplanar with the outer vertical faces 21 of the concrete base 11 so that when the forms (not shown) for the base are removed the bores 18 are available to receive screws 25 for attaching the cast iron curb to the base as hereinafter described.

Each curb section 10 is made of a single piece of cast iron and has a vertical rear wall 30, a top wall 31 extending forwardly from the rear wall 30, an inclined front wall 32 which extends downwardly in divergent relation to the rear wall 30 and a bottom flange 33 which projects forwardly from the lower edge of the inclined front wall 32 and forms a toe embedded by the surfacing material 12 of the roadway as best shown in FIG. 1. The bottom edges of the front and rear walls 32 and 30 lie in the same plane and are adapted to rest directly on the concrete base 11 with the rear face of the rear wall 30 coplanar with the vertical outer face 21 of the concrete base 11.

The crub as above described can be produced in any desired configuration and with any surface finish. For example the top wall 31 of the curb can be deeply groved to provide rough squares 35 having anti-slip qualities so that the use of the curb as a step by pedestrians is rendered considerably safer than the smoother stone curbs now in common use. Also the outer face of the front wall 32 can be provided with ribs or recesses 36 which are vertically disposed and triangular in horizontal section so as to provide a face 38 opposing traffic on the corresponding side of the roadway. By providing paint (not shown) or a similar finish on these faces 38 the location of the curb is clearly available to motorists at night from the light reflected from their headlights by these painted surfaces 38.

Internally each section 10 is preferably strengthened by a deep relatively thin cross rib 39 which preferably con;

, nects with rear, top and front walls 30, 31, 32 substantially the full width thereof but preferably has its extensions 42.

bottom arching upwardly at its center, as indicated at 40, so as to not interfere with surface irregularities, stones or the like on the concrete base 11 when the curb is being set up. Additional'thicker crossribs 41 can be provided on the underside of the top wall between the ribs 39.

The feature of the invention resides in the manner in which the curb sections are interfitted and interlocked at their ends so as to have the appearance of a continuous curb and so as to permit the curb to be laid around broad curves, either horizontal or vertical, and at the same time permit expansion and contraction of the curb with climatic changes. To this end one end of each curb section 10 is formed with a male extension 42 in the form of a tapered or pyramidal tubular extension of outwardly diminishing form. The tops and sides of these tapered tubular extensions 42 generally conform to the cross sectional shape of the curb and its tubular form is provided by a horizontal bar or bridge piece 42 connecting the bottom portions of the sides of the tubular At its outer end each of these tapered tubular extensions is provided with a radially outwardly opening channel 43 which encircles the extension and contains a band 44 of soft resilient plastic material, preferably a synthetic rubber. A feature of the invention is that the outer surface 45 of the band or gasket 44 generally conforms to the taper of the extension 42, that is, this gasket is of tapering pyramidal form diminishing outwardly.

The opposite end of each curb section 10 is provided with a mating female portion, this portion being in the form of a ring 46 the top and sides of which generally conform to the cross sectional shape of the curb and its tubular form its provided by a horizontal bar or bridge piece 46 connecting the bottom portion of the sides of the ring 46. This ring has an internal tapering bore 48 which conforms to the external taper of the extension 42 contained therein. The bore 48 in therefore of outwardly enlarging form, and this bore is also provided with a continuous internal groove 49 which in the interfitted position of the curb sections, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is in register with the groove 43 of the tapered tubular extension 42 of the adjacent curb section. The gasket 44 protrudes from the groove 43 and hence is compressed by the internal tapering bore 48 when the groove sections 10 are pushed together. When this gasket reaches the groove 49 of the companion curb section 10, it expands into this groove so as to provide a resilient interlock between the two curb sections as shown in FIG. 4. It will be seen that the tapered face 45 on each gasket facilitates the insertion of the curb sections and it will be seen that while the gasket provides a resilient connection between the several curb sections it does not interfere with the sections 10 being disposed at a slight angle to each other either horizontally as in following a broad curve in the roadway, or vertically as in passing over the top of a hill or otherundulation. It will also be seen that the gaskets permit noiseless longitudinal expansion and contraction of the several sections of the curb.

A feature of the invention resides in the positive anchorage of the curb to the concrete base of the roadway in a manner which not only permits the speedy and low cost erection of the curb but also permits the ready removal of any sections if required, such as if removal is required for a driveway. To this end the top wall 31 of the curb is provided along its rear edge with a deep downwardly extending external groove 50 which preferably extends the full length of the curb section. This groove receives the reversely bent or downwardly hooked upper end 51 of a metal anchoring or tie plate 52 which lays along the rear face of the back wall 30 of the curb and also the coplanar face 21 of the concrete base 11. This plate is preferably reinforced with a central vertical corrugation 53 which is provided with a vertical slot 54 at its lower end. The anchoring screw 25 extends through this slot into the threaded bore 18 of the nut 15 embedded in the concrete face 21 and provides a firm anchorage for the curb in these nuts. It will be seen that by the provision of the continuous groove 50 along the top of the curb the plates 52 can be placed anywhere along the curb to conform to the position of the embedded nuts 15. It will also be seen that the vertical enlargement of the slots 54 provides for compensation for irregularities in the height or position of the curb. It will also be seen that by reason of the continuous groove 50 in the top of the curb and the vertical slot 34 in the anchor plate 52, a high degree of accuracy is not required in locating the embedded nuts 15 vertically or horizontally along the curb.

Another feature of the invention'resides in the crest or top face 55 0f the curb behind the continuous groove 51 being lower than the embossed top face 35 in front of this groove. This differential in height is preferably equal to the thickness of the anchor plate 52 so that the top of this anchor plate is substantially coplanar with the embossed top face 35 of the curb and does not form a projection likely to trip anyone stepping from or onto the curb.

The installation of a curb using the sections forming the subject of the present invention and anchored in the manner disclosed can be performed rapidly and economically with a minimum amount of labor. Thus, with the anchoring nuts 15 set at intervals in the sides of the concrete base 11 so as to be flush with the vertical side faces 21 thereof, all that is necessary is to lay a succession of the sections 10 along the side of the concrete strip 11 and to push the tapered tubular extension 42 at the end of each section 10 into the tapered bore 48 of the portion 46 at the opposite end of a preceding section 10. In so pushing the sections together the bands or gaskets 34 are compressed and then spring outwardly into the grooves 49 so as to provide a resilient interlock between the several sections.

The connected sections are then brought so that the vertical faces of their rear walls 30 are in line with the vertical side faces 21 of the concrete base 11 and an anchoring plate 52 is then placed above each embedded anchoring nut 15 and its rib or reverse bend 51 caught in the channel 50 of the corresponding curb section 10. A screw 25 is then passed through the slot 54 and screwed into the nut 15 and tightened so as to positively anchor each curb section 10 to the concrete base 11. Thereafter the surface layer 12 of asphalt or the like can be paved against the base of the front inclined wall 32 of the connected curb sections.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a curb having the many advantages flowing from the use of cast iron and which can be quickly installed with a minimum of labor and to follow both vertical and horizontal undulations of the roadway. It will further be seen that the several sections are reliably interconnected with one another and positively anchored to the base of the roadway while at the same time the sections are free to expand and contract noiselessly with temperature changes. It will further be seen that the curb is free from projections likely to trip anyone. i

I claim:

1. A highway curb comprising a concrete base having a vertical edge face, a series of substantially identical curb sections arranged end-to-end each in the form of a single horizontally elongated hollow cast iron body open at its bottom and having front and rear walls connected by an integral top wall, said front and rear walls being seated on said concrete base with said rear wall arranged to form substantially an upward continuation of said vertical edge face of said base, an anchor member adjacent each section embedded in said concrete base along said vertical edge face, a fastening member, means securing each fastening member to its companion anchoring member, and means securing each curb section to its companion fastening member comprising an upwardly opening recess in said top wall of each curb section directly above its said rear wall and a hook-shaped upper end on said fastening member seated in said recess.

2. A highway curb as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means securing each fastening member to its companion anchoring member, comprises an opening in the lower end of each fastening member in line with its anchoring member, means providing a threaded screw surface on said anchoring member in line with said opening and a threaded screw member mating with said threaded surface and securing said fastening member to said anchoring member through said hole.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 35,760 2/02 Harrison 9431 X Reddall 9431 Caples 9431 X Landis 9431 Boyle 285336 Streisel 248-154 Brookman 94-31 X Dyer 94--31 Hunter 9431 Whiting 285-347 Daniels 14-72 Snyder 285347 Rogers 285336 Pankey 50102 Ficek 248-154 Thompson 248361 Law 1472 Great Britain.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HIGHWAY CURB COMPRISING A CONCRETE BASE HAVING A VERTICAL EDGE FACE, A SERIES OF SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL CURB SECTONS ARRANGED END-TO-END EACH IN THE FORM OF A SINGLE HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED HOLLOW CAST IRON BODY OPEN AT ITS BOTTOM AND HAVING FRONT AND REAR WALLS CONNECTED BY AN INTEGRAL TOP WAL, SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS BEING SEATED ON SAID CONCRETE BASE WTH SAID REAR WALL ARRANGED TO FORM SUBSTANTIALLY AN UPWARD CONTINUATION OF SAID VERTICAL EDGE FACE OF SAID BASE, AN ANCOR MEMBER ADJACENT EACH SECTION EMBEDDED IN SAID CONCRETE BASE AONG SAID VERTICAL EDGE FACE, A FASTENING MEMBER, MEANS SECURING EACH FASTENING MEMBER TO ITS COMPANION ANCHORING MEMBER, AND MEANS SECURING EACH CURB SECTION TO ITS COMPANION FASTENING MEMBER COMPRISING AN UPWARDLY OPENING RECESS IN SAID TOP WALL OF WEACH CURB SECTION DIRECTLY ABOVE ITS SAID REAR WALL AND A HOOK-SHAPED UPPER END ON SAID FASTENING MEMBER SEATED IN SAID RECESS. 